The northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) male has black hair all over its body except for the distinct white cheeks – the female is reddish/grey with dark brown/black hair fur on the crown of its head and back of the neck. A Critically Endangered species of gibbon native to South East Asia, it is closely related to the southern white-cheeked gibbon, with which it was previously considered conspecific. Northern white-cheeked gibbons are officially classified as apes – like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, northern white-cheeked gibbons have no tail. This is an easy way to tell the difference between apes and monkeys. Younger northern white-cheeked gibbons are typically tan in colour but gradually turn darker as they age.
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